Golden Rockets outlast Eastern, 11-9

The Eastern baseball team scored nine runs on nine hits Thursday night, but non-conference host Wellston scored 11 runs on seven hits and took the two-run victory, in Jackson County.

Wellston (10-4) took the lead with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning, using one hit, one error and one hit batter.

The Eagles (10-7) tied the game with no outs in the top of the third, when Cameron Richmond doubled home John Little, and then scored on a Kaleb Hill single. EHS took the 3-2 lead later in the frame, as senior Jesse Morris drove in Hill.

Eastern’s lead was short-lived, however, as a trio of Golden Rockets scored in the bottom of the third.

Trailing 5-3, the Eagles had an answer yet again, as Little, Austin Coleman and Cameron Richmond each scored in the top of the fourth. However, Wellston regained the advantage with three runs on one hit, three free passes and one error, in the bottom of the inning.

The Eagles tied the game at eight in the top of the fifth frame, when Dillon Swatzel and Owen Arix both scored.

WHS was held scoreless in the fifth frame, but pushed three runs across on two hits and one walk in the bottom of the sixth inning. Eastern managed only one run in the final stanza and the Golden Rockets took the 11-9 victory.

Wellston’s Justin Rafferty was the winning pitcher of record, while EHS sophomore Austin Coleman took the loss. Coleman struck out three batters, but allowed six runs on four hits and five walks, in three innings of relief work. Ethen Richmond pitched the first three frames for EHS and he allowed five runs on three hits and two free passes.

Cameron Richmond led the Eagles offensively, going 3-for-5 with one double, two singles, one run scored and two RBI. Little doubled once, singled once, scored twice and drove in one run for the Green and Gold, Kaleb Hill singled twice, scored twice and drove in two runs, while Dillon Swatzel tripled once and scored once. Coleman singled once and scored twice for EHS, Arix added one run scored, while Morris drove in one run.

Connor Bates led the Golden Rockets with two hits and three runs scored, while Justin Rafferty had two hits, one run scored and one RBI. Hunter Whalen singled once, scored once and drove in two runs, Braydon Womeldorf singled once and scored three times, Caleb Stanley singled once and scored once, while Noah Henry scored two runs in the win.

Both Eastern and Wellston committed three errors defensively. The Eagles left nine runners on base, while the Blue and Gold stranded seven.

After hosting Vinton County on Friday, EHS will resume Tri-Valley Conference Hocking Division play on Monday, when league-leading Wahama visits Tuppers Plains.